Valve-seat grinder



Feb. 18, 1947.

P. E. WILCOX 2,416,247

VALVE SEAT GRINDER Filed June 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 18,1947. P. E. wlLcox 2,416,247

VALVE SEAT GRINDER Filed June 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PHIL/P E- W/l- COX Feb. 18, 1947. P. E. w|| cox 2,416,247

VALVE SEAT GRINDER Filed June '5, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet s wi /657M1 7 r IHI PHIL/P 6. WI]. cox

BY ATTOR NE) Patented Feb; a

, Philip EL Wilc'oxpNew York, N. Y., assignor to I u The 'Leav'itt Machinecompany', ra1'ige,Mass.,fi

a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationiJune 3, 1944,. seriai'1vo. 538,647

- My present invention relates gererally to grinding apparatus, and-has Particular reference to an improved ,instrument for grinding valve seats.- t

A general objectof the invention is to provide certain in'ipro'vements in ,the known type of ap,

paratus which is employed to grind or rezgrind zolaims'. (01. 51- 241) a valve-seat positioned inthe interior'of-avalvebody. Illustrative of thekindof valve-seat for; whose grinding the present instrument is primar-- ily intended'is the valve-seat of ,a'conventional globe valve. Accordingly, I have herein illustrated and-shall hereinafter describe a; grinding apparatussuitable for grinding sucha valve-seat, although it will be-understoodthatcertain phases of the inventionmay be'ofwiderapplicabilityand are not necessarily restricted in their utility to the grinding of globe valve valve-seats.- j

, Among the problems {inevitably involved! in grinding an interior ,valve-seatyof the character mentioned is the-necessity for [accurately positioning and firmly supporting the grinding in-f strument in proper predetermined relation to the valve-seat, and in maintaining such accuracy and support throughout the grinding-operation. Usually the grinding instrumentality is mounted or formed on the endof a work-shaft journale'd in a-suitable housing for bothwrotationaland axial movements. For proper grinding it is imperative that the shaft be not onlycentered or aligned in predetermined manner with respect to the valveseat but that it be true in rotation, and it is also of great importance that the shaft remain true and centered during the progress of the grinding procedure. The centering or alignment of the shaftis usually accomplished bymeansof an'adju-stable chuck adapted to engagetherneck of the valve body either exteriorly' or interiorly; In accordance with my ,present invention, a structureis provided by means .of which these necessary accurate relationships can be more readily achieved and. sustained, whereby. the grinding operation may be. performed with greater ease and speed, and whereby" the results achieved are uniformly reliable, accurate, and

true. More particularly, the present improved array and arrangementpf parts are of such a character that the journaling of the workshaft in accurately fitted positional" relation to the housing, and the firm and' accurate support ofthe housing upon a single fixed; reference surface formed onthe valvebody (usually a "finished flat exterior surface on the valve body neck through which the valve :stem normally extends), may

remain entirely unaffected and undisturbed by t design of the parts 'wher the chuck adjustments and by the axial adj ments of the workshaftg is achieved 1) trolling the axial movements of the shaft is inde pendent of the journaled fit-of the shaftin the p housingz and wherebythechuck engagement with the valve body isk similarly divorced from-"tl'ie meanscontrolling theaccurate'seating' of the housing: in firmlyisupported relation to the-valve body. H in Y Ingeneral, the improved structure is one which lends itself readily to precision'manufacture and operation, -which functions smoothly and ciently under varied conditions and'ovenloni periodsoi use, which is relatively inexpensiveftio manufacture and easy to use, and which is of mechanically sound and staunch characten I Lachieve these general objects and-desirable I advantages, and such otherfobjects and advan l "the apparatus, taken substantially along the=line L paratus of the present improved .typeshow'nin 25 tages'as may hereinafter. appear or be pointed" out, in the manner illustrativ ely exemplified the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

,Figure l is a'perspe'ctive view ofa grindingoperative relation to a conventional giotevn FigureZis a longitudinal cross-sectional view through ,the valve body,--,illustrating known relationships'of parts;

Figure Bis a longitudinal view'of the parts of the grindin instrument byjitself, with a portion broken away to, reveal certain interior mechanism; i

, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along'theli'n'e 4- 4of,igure 3;

Figure 5, is a planview of the lowersectiQn 55-of Figure 3,-with certain parts brokenaway to'revealzinterior structure; and 1 Figure 6 is alfra'ginentarycross-sectional view taken substantially'along the line 6-6" of Fig- The' embodiment or the invention which" 1.5m

hereinchosen to illustrate is in'tende'd to find support upon' a' globe valve body and to grind or: regrindfthe-interiorvalve-seat After the valve and valve stem, and associated parts, ofaflglobel valve have been: removed, the body presents'arr appearance substantiallyas shown in l ig'ureiz. The valve-seat is disposed in theli'nterior ofthfe body, beneath a neck II, the latter havingQa flange l 2 with an accurately-finished fla'textef rior surface I 3. Carried by the flange I 2 area series of circumferentially-spaced'studs, M' by by themeans for" can means of which the stuffing-box and the valvestem are held in place.

By virtue 'of the nature of a g o e V it is through the neck I I thata grinding tool must be'projected in order to engage with the valveseat for grinding purposes. Accordingly, the

grinding. apparatusis necessarily designed .to co operate with? this'gneck f-to bring the: tool into I proper grindingrelation to the valve-seat. The surface l3, being accurately parallel to the plane,

of thevalve-seat, affords a convenient reference surface by means of which the desired position ing of the tool may be achieved, and the valveseat being accurately aligned,"jiaxiallmjwith'ith neck H, the latter serves asa convenient mea for centering the tool. Because of the importarlc of these relationships to the proper functioning o the grinding apparatus, and the fact that the precision characteristics of the present improved ap 3 3J21 depe flieli e 3 g'u Ve" the'plane" of this surface has been SpB- j e '4,asf th, refer'eii ce lane. "Referringfnow'to'Figures '3, i observed that the housing of the present-apparates, 1$ .compq-SQII (for the sakeiof convenience in manufacture of two" main sec'tions'; a lower 7 sectic and!" an upper jse'ctiionj. means for abut ting "disc-like 'or' flange portio'r'is lfi and I 6, these studsl'l orlfeduivalent fasteners;

he owersectionof the v V 1 3,(Figuie 4 from which three sections are held together by suitable bolts or.

arfe prefe'rauy arrangediat substantially intervals; deach of them has, an accurately -finishedbotuom; surface lllisee Figure 6-) these sura d 5. it; will be housing has' a-centrall 14 carries a beveled gear 21 journaled in the hub portion l8 of the housing. These gears mesh with acommon beveled gear 28 concentrically mounted with respect to this hub portion. ;-A control shaft 29, carrying at its inner end a beveled gear 30 meshing with the gear 28, and suitably shaped on its outer end. (as at 3 I) .to re'ceivean actuating tdol or ;the. like, brings about 'simultaneous and coordinated rotations of the "worm shaft 22' 10: thereby causing simultaneous radial movements "of the gripping portions or dogs 24. e LTInZ'the embodiment illustrated herein, these gripping portions are of a character which engage theti'ntericr'of the neck of the'globe valve body, 'butif, desired they may be provided in a form'whi'ch engages the neck exteriorly. Of pri-' mary importance is the fact that the 'parts are so A designed and assembled that the movements of the chuck elements have no effect upon the firm seating of the grinding apparatus upon the valve 1 body. This advantage is illustrated most clearly in Figures 4*a'n'd6"wliereir'i it will be observed that each finished surface'20 is belowthe level of the corresponding chuck element, except for the grip ping portion 24; and the latter presents only a I lateral surfaceor surfaces Wh'oses'ole function is i to engage the neck "of the valve body, radially, for

faces being accurately alighed in a single plane so portupo'nthe reference 'sur'face- 13,: as-indicated in Figurell Ihe spaced arrangement of the arms permi e g a ed .z epoi i h wir stablis'h'ed inf the regions between the studs I74.

dttomjs'urfa'ces g t need' "not be of'any an: desired lengthsjpre'ferably s chosen that the apa series of valve bodies of different sizesi paiatus may be selectively employed with any' of 6,: the cavity 2l is shown of substantially'rectangularcross-sectional configuration; but it .may have any lother suitable-or desired shape. It acth zl i t i a magmas-era? 01111.61?

., merit.v

'1 each W0 m a fcau ef orr ond ment to move longitudinally "These. i movemen sfof theithree,chuck'elements are pref: v 1 erablycoordinated,and maybe controlled'by gear meclzl'anismfcffthe-character" shown.; It' will be 1 observed that theinner endbfachworm-shaf-t r the armsl 9 has' a long-itudinal bore or and a-lon'gitudi'nal slot-aligned with-the 3 bore and-opening onto the sur-faoe'20. In- Figure 1 'centering-pfurposes; fAccordingly, the apparatus V may-be rested upon the valve body with'thesun' faces 20 incontactwith thereferen'ce surface l3;

thus affording an accurate thre'e-point; support; and this I firm relationship 'r'e'm'ains unimpaired andundisturbedby adjustments of'the chuck ele ments'. Cbnvefsely; these chuck elements may be fre'ely iadjusted and mov'ed. --by'-ac'tu-ation of the part 'tlg'to brin'gabojutg the' desired centering of the apparatus relative to the "valve body neck; without affecting the accuracy or r'igidity of the apparatus in relation to the reference surface l3. The precision characteristicsot the apparatus are' assured by mounting the work shaft in thehoils'irig} I a trued :un'alterable relationtc the surfaces 20; usually at an' accur'ate to the plane 61" these surfaces. The *journaling of the work-shaft is shown' mcst'clearlyinFigure' 4.

on :bearing' portion for' the work-shaft 32 is secured} as? at 33,- to the hub portion I I 8 of the lower housing.section; and-assumes the form of a depending sleve' :34 which may be of any"de-' siredor suitable length.- "A'second bearing portion'. well spaced "from-' the sleeve 34, is'formed V on'the'upper housing 'sectidn; This latter section has 'an'i-enlariged art" 35' to' accommodate certain mechanismpresently to be described, and

an upwardly e'xtending sleeve. 36 whichfiserves as thei bearing portion referred to; The bearing sleeves Miami 36; being-rigidly and immovably associated with the housing fixed parts thereof,=define *an" absolutely true work-shaft axis which maybea'ecurately arranged at a fixed 'predetermined angularity (preferably 90? as shown) tothesurfaces '20,:l'1cnce1td-th'e reference surface be bb oust;the?irotativefmove'ments"of I 1-3. Durin'g rnanufacturgthe shaft 32 .is 'prefereably lapped"into accurat'ely journaled relationship to:these"bearings; The rotational movements'of the work-shaft'32" be controlledfin any'desired usual m'anner; but I prefer the -improved arrangement shown whereby a: drive shaft 1 31, disposed at? right angles totlie axiscf the "work shaft 'tz, may be malnuallyfrctated by means of a crank-handle 38 or"m aybe'mechanically or electrically driven in? any 'cther suitable" fa'shion' The drive shaft 31 'i's -journaled *iiithe housing portion era-nacairies 'a gearnofz whieh mshes withthe larger washer element warm s latter-gear is mounted? one-shaft nines Figure 4:)rvwhich1 carries :th'er-beveledtgear 1 l3,the-latter meshing witlr'anddriving: the larger I beveled 'gear 44;. Theegear llais concentrically mounted {with respect'to the work shafttz and is splinedzta the-latter by means of akey "45 fit ting intothe keywaylfi in the shaft 321 A setscrew fl may be provided to fasten the key '45 to the hub of the gear, 44. A suitable spacer-or 48-may be positioned as shown.

The disposition of the crank-handle 38 in a laterally accessible" position serves to facilitate the applicationtof-n: drivingforce either manual or otherwise, forrotatingzthe work-shaftr Moreover, by. virtue ofthe improved arrangement, v

the actuation 'of' "thedrive s'haft 31is caused to be positionally remote fromand fully independ-i entiofrzthe-means for controlling axial moveinentsz-ot.=- the workeshafn Thetrue rotationaof the work-,eshaft on its. axis,. and in predetermined positional relationtothe reference surface. I13. and tlreyalve-seat whichis 'beingground, is thusimore readily effected and sustained.

' seat'iand 'cause' possible injury to the 'lattery 'orf and the partsitcarriesmay nmny 'way'iimpairthe accurate fit be coupledwith tl le accurate transverse I disposition;

of the shoulder eaerelativeg-to the shaft 32, assures .preCiSlOnE' "functioning: of} the @apparatus at. a all ''The operative interposition of thespring 58 be tween the shaft and the adjusting element 58 assures continued-- and' fp'rop'er 5 frictional i engage I ment atrall times between the adjustlng element 55 andthe shaffiand-elfminates any vibrationor ight: otherwise impair I th-% ac-f curacy of" the grinding procedurer This'arran'ge looseness which i ment of parts achieves two further adva tages; Que is tliat theiphysical weight *ofthe wor-k-shaft and its associatedipartsis always-transmitted through the v 'spring M-to the -e1einent56 an'd thus t0tfieho1lsing,-with no danger'at any 'time'that thisweight may fall-improperly upon the valvethat the weight of the shaft 1 tweenthe work-shaft and its bearings. The other Equally independent of the accurately journaled relation of the worksha'ft to the housing is the novel means which I have provided for controlling the axial advancements and retractive movements of the work-shaft. To achieve the desired result, I provide a. rearwardly-directed shoulder'on the work-shaft, accurately disposed in a shaft axis. This shoulder is designated by the plane perpendicular to'the workreference numeral 49' (Figure 4) and is preferably formed on the flangev of a sleeve element 50-.

desirable, but normally these parts are firmly secured togetherby means ofthe set-screw or screws 53.

The lower edge of the collar 5| defines a rearwardly-directed annular shoulder 54 arranged in opposed relation to the shoulder 49. Between the shoulders 49 and 54 is ried by the adjusting element '56. Thiselement is in screw-threadedrelation to the bearing portion 36, and is herein shown provided with a manually-controllable wheel 51 by means of which the flange 55 may be caused to advance or retire in a longitudinal direction relative to the work-shaft axis. When it advances it presses against the shoulder 49 and thus imparts a longitudinal or axial advancing movement to the work-shaft 32. A compression spring 58, interposed between the flange 55 and theshoulder 54, urges the shoulder 49 constantly, against the flange 55.

Between periods of adjustment of the element 56 relative to the-bearing portion 36, a set-screw or wing-nut 59 (mounted in the element 56) may be tightened so as tobear against the portion and thereby lock the parts in any selected relationship.

, It will be observed that the bearing portion 35 is threaded on its exterior surface. As a result, the accurately lapped fit between it and the work-shaft 32 remains entirely unaffected by rotative adjustments of the element 56. This fact,

50 and 5| may be positionally adjusted advantage lies in the ability to bring-about aretractive movement of the work-shaft by mere ad justment'of the element 56f, (causing the'flange 55 to 'bear upwardly-against the*shou1der'5 4 without-any necessity fordisturbing the accurately-centered and aligned relationship between the 'sur-faces'|3*and20i- It will thus be seen that the present improved apparatus is of unusual efficiency and reliability, capable of performing micrometrically accurate grinding and regrinding operations, or operations of analogous character, with ease and precision. These advantages are achieved by means of a structure which .is relatively simple in its ,mechanical constituents, relatively inexpensiveto j manufacture, easy to use, and of rugged and durable character.

, Obviously, many of the details herein described and illustrated maybe modified by those skilled Y in the art without departing from the spirit and p, scope of the invention as expressed in the, appended claims. Accordingly, unless otherwise specifically alluded to in the claims, these details" are intended to be interpreted as illustrative and 1 not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

an annular flange cari 1.VIn an instrument for grinding a valve'seat n the interior of a valve body having a neck and a flat reference surface in fixed positional rela' tionship to the'valve seat, a housing provided with a bearing portion, a work shaft accurately ournaled in said bearing portion for' rotational and axial movements, means fixedly carried by outer face, each'chuck element being mounted within said bore so thatonly the dog thereof prothe housing for supporting the latter on said ref-'- erence surface withthe shaft axis accurately at a predetermined angle to said surface wherebythe operative end of said work shaft may be brought through said neck into accurate positionalrela- Q tion to said valve seat, said means comprising 1 three radial arms having outer surfaces affording a three-point support upon said reference surface, saidarms being arranged at approximately intervals, and complementary chuck elemerits carried by said arms and provided with dogs adapted to engage radially with said neck, and means for mounting each chuck element in one of said arms for longitudinal movement therein, each arm having a; longitudinal bore therein and an aligned longitudinal slot in its jects outwardly through saidslot,whereby longi.

5 in gne k-t rminatin ati tst 1 11I ace ih i .a curatqlyeiin sh d tw lve a a 5 s l S ae 'of.. e c.e. on l h9ut in eha a ts bottomtportionzc m qsed oi l raglially extendin arms,,the ibottoms rfacessof. 'wh chare .a'c rat i yv roi nd int t ..s m tp1 1 tudvinai movements, of said: chuck elements .inay be; effected independently ;of, the;.accurate support Q1: the housing upon said ref;,ere.nce surfa.ce;

2. In an instrument for grinding a valve ,seat;

ne he in erior or: ava izeaboqyhavin an s an the v lve hody, x

- able "radially a1ong;.said arms 1701 aninneriposition t :;as single sur ne :of arreferenpesp the j l said h l es sea ed pnisa irfia a i f 1 once, said work'shaft peingraqcprately journaled in said, hearin p rtion my rotational and axial in yqmantt w e S i f e r aceswo o r ference 1 will always position and ngaintai n the shaft ac 1 onrateiy tothe alve seatfl i n that position to whi ,1 a..b a us edinits ea naand c 11 9 me f sqar i d y, sa'idamaahd depend? 5 mg belowthe bottom surfaees thereof. for afljxing the i'housingto the valve body v after it has been seated -thereon,- saidchucki-meanssbeing adjust wherein iwhen said housing --is seated on said valve body esaid chuck' means ean be entered into the neck of: the valvetop angirthen expanded'toe'ns v gage the inner surface of thevalve neck wall without disturbing the seating of thehousing on thezvalve' body. I

0X. 1' FE EN ES I EDJ The following references are of record in the" fiieofthis-patent-z ","UNI ED s ATE's-pAT nTs l iumher vi a Namevv FOREIIGNPA'IYEINIS Nuinbef; 7 countr a 1 Date a v. 266 008. -Germany. Get. 17, 1913 I Dates Houser i Dec. 27,1927 

